United States News

XL Insurance Adds to Aviation Team, Expands West

New York-based XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., has expanded its U.S. Aviation underwriting team with an aviation branch office in San Francisco and by adding to its New York-based underwriting staff. In San Francisco, Mark …

Tens of Thousands Feared Dead, Capital in Ruins From Haiti’s Catastrophic Quake

Traumatized Haitians slept out in parks and streets Thursday, fearing aftershocks to the catastrophic earthquake that flattened homes and government buildings and buried countless people. Tens of thousands of people were feared dead and many were believed to be still …

Preliminary California Quake Damage Tally at $12.5 Million

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Jan. 9, shaking buildings south of the Oregon border and knocking out power in several coastal communities. The quake hit at about 4:27 p.m. PST about 22 miles …

SEC Order Keeps Some AIG Bailout Terms Sealed Until 2018

It could take until November 2018 to get the full story behind the U.S. bailout of insurance giant American International Group because of an action taken last year by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In May, the SEC approved a …

Pan-American Life Creates Pan-American Benefits Solutions

New Oreleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Group announced the launch of its new member company, Pan-American Benefits Solutions Inc. Pan-American Benefits Solutions is a provider of group benefit programs that offer solutions for the pressures of rising medical insurance costs in …

Inadequate Warning Claims Against Generic Drugs OK Under State Law

A federal appeals court said Friday that patients may sue generic drugmakers under state law for failing to provide adequate warnings about their drugs’ potential side effects, extending a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling governing makers of name-brand drugs. The …

East Meets West

The Hanover Group Expands Out West, Enters Agreement With OneBeacon The Hanover Insurance Group Inc.’s CEO Frederick H. Eppinger expects the western United States to be a key growth driver for the super-regional insurer in the next several years. Having …

Business Moves

PacWest Alliance, Shaw Group The Shaw Group of Eureka, Calif., and its affiliates: Anderson, Robinson & Starkey Inc.; Shaw & Petersen Insurance Inc.; PS Insurance Inc. dba Shaw Insurance Services; and Harbers Insurance Agency Inc. are the newest members to …

People

Virginia-based specialty insurer Markel Corp. announced that its President and Chief Operating Officer Paul W. Springman resigned. Springman had been on a leave of absence since late October. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) named …

Most Property Reinsurance Rates Down at January Renewal As Capital Rebounds

Reinsurance rates across most lines of property catastrophe business declined at the Jan. 1, 2010 renewal, according to a briefing by Guy Carpenter & Co. LLC. Guy Carpenter’s World Catastrophe Rate on Line (ROL) Index declined by 6 percent at …